People may make jokes regarding eating disorders but it is definitely a condition that is no laughing matter. It is a serious psychological condition that, if left untreated, could result to serious consequences, i.e. death.
Models, actresses, artists, and others who rely on their looks for a living develop eating disorders. But more regular folks develop the condition too because of their attempts to emulate a certain celebrity that they admire.
Plenty of women have eating disorders and they need special treatment which involves psychologic and physical evaluation and management. But the problem is not exclusive to women. Men, too, can have issues regarding their body image and they may develop an eating disorder as well. Men have been diagnosed with eating disorders too, it is just that more women are documented to have it and women are more prone to have it.
One can get this specialized treatment from specialists working in eating disorders facilities. If you are suffering from this condition or if you know someone who does, then you have to take action. Use the internet to locate a center that is near your area. If there is no treatment facility that is within your residential area, you may have to look further.
It is important to address this issue immediately because the body suffers the most if a man or a woman has an eating disorder. For example, anorexic patients will not eat sufficient amounts of food. Caloric consumption is so low that muscle wastage occurs. The body uses the muscle as sources of fuel.
The brain does not receive nutrition which makes the patient cranky, irritable, and unable to focus. There is a problem with the way anorexic patients see themselves. The patient sees himself or herself as fat or overweight, even if they are actually already underweight.
Attempts to lose weight are performed such as excessive exercising and undereating. Eventually, the body cannot take take it anymore and the patient may die due to complications because of the lack of nutrition.
If you do not eat healthily, your body will suffer. Heart disease is the most common reason why patients with severe anorexia die. Heart rhythms such as bradycardia (low heart rate) may occur. Blood pressure may go down. The heart loses size and its capacity to pump more blood. Cholesterol may also rise.
Once a patient is diagnosed by the hospital or other eating disorders facilities with an eating disorder, a treatment plan is developed which will address issues such as low weight, imbalances in the body, low nutrition, dehydration, et cetera. The goal is to make the patient healthier so as to reduce the chances of the patient dying from malnutrition.